Higher ed leaders seek opportunities, growth amid possible Legislature-driven disruptions

SALT LAKE CITY — Graduates from Utah's colleges and universities will step into a world that demands adaptability and reinvention.

The abilities to nimbly adapt, collaborate and thrive amid evolving challenges are just as essential for the state's higher education institutions.

That was a core message shared Thursday at a University of Utah Hinckley Institute forum that featured three key players in the state's higher education community: University of Utah President Taylor Randall, University of Utah Provost Mitzi Montoya and Utah System of Higher Education Commissioner Geoffrey Landward.

The trio of educators paneled a Utah legislative session preview entitled "Making the Case for Higher Education."

Lawmakers have signaled higher education as being on the short list of defining issues for the fast-approaching 2025 Utah Legislative session.

The state's public colleges and universities likely face budget cuts and fiscal reallocations to reduce operating costs and purported inefficiencies — even while being asked to prioritize industry demands and workforce needs.

Such changes to Utah's higher education system are sure to be uncomfortable. And Randall acknowledged that there have been "tense discussions" leading up to the legislative session.

But opportunities are also emerging at a moment of academic disruption.

The state's colleges and universities, said Randall, "have to analyze themselves and ask, 'Are we delivering?'"

The leader of the state's flagship university said all the players in Utah's higher education system share a deep concern for student success — along with the state's future economic viability.

"It's hard to argue that we need less education," said Randall, "In fact, it's more a question of knowing that we need more (education) — and, what is the type of skill and education that our students need?"

Landward noted that higher education's role in Utah is immense.

The state's lawmakers, he said, understand that fact— and they are invested in making it work. They are seeking a measurable return on that investment that is both strategic and objective.

While many across the country are antagonistic toward higher education, the commissioner said his discussions with local lawmakers have always been anchored to discovering what's best for Utah and its students.

"They are interested in our feedback and they have been responsive to our feedback," said Landward.

The University of Utah has already developed plans to meet the Legislature's expected request for accountability and transparency, said Montoya.

Meanwhile, system-based criterium for the various higher education institutions are being developed to yield the best return of investments in areas such as graduation and meeting workforce industry needs, said Landward.

"We want to ensure that the framework we develop is one in which the decision-making is squarely with the leaders who have access to the right information and understanding of the particular campuses — and that's the presidents and their leadership teams and the campus communities."

Another key legislative priority is ensuring students are placed on reliable paths to complete their degree or certificate, said Landward.

The "richness" of a college experience

When asked about possible budget cuts, Randall noted that each of Utah's higher education institutions is different — and each plays a different role.

"We pride ourselves on a broad education that includes humanities and arts," he said. "And so as we negotiate and we think about these reallocations, one of the things that we are trying to preserve here is the notion that there's much more that people come to this campus for than simply an immediate job.

"You're actually coming here for the richness that is the University of Utah campus. …. That is one of the values that we care deeply about."

Randall added that he's enthused to make investments in programs that not only develop directly applicable job skills but also essential soft skills.

Being asked to revise, modify and improve is nothing new, said Montoya.

"We have to because the world around us is changing," she said. "It's always been part of our process. And it will continue to be part of our process."

Randall said he and his associates are also taking a hard look at administrative costs.

"I think that becoming more efficient in the way we deliver support to both faculty, staff and students is really important. Those are the other types of things that we're going to look hard at as we try to make these re-investments."

Montoya also spoke of keeping administrative costs down through shared services before addressing a subject of obvious interest to Thursday's lunchtime audience of college students: tuition.

The University of Utah, she said, has worked to keep tuition low.

"We've also worked extremely hard to make sure that we are working on providing scholarships, whether they are scholarships that we support ourselves or that we raise through philanthropic means, to provide as much support as we can to reduce that actual price that students pay."

Landward noted opportunities for higher education institutions to share services such as human resources, finance and cybersecurity between institutions.

Universities developing "human capital"

During a brief Q&A session with the panelists, a student said he often feels that the tension between state government and higher education doesn't revolve around financial efficiency — but ideology.

He asked what school administrators can do to temper culture wars and remain focused on education.

Responding, Randall warned of the dangers of generalities.

The Legislature, he said, is a body consisting of hundreds of people — each from different backgrounds and beliefs. That same diversity is found on university campuses. Differing opinions deserve to be debated.

Randall concluded his forum remarks with a pep talk for Utah students:

"One of the major things that universities do is we develop human beings, and we develop human capital. … You should feel yourself to be unique. You are special in so many ways — in your ability to go out and engage in the real world."

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